Inter Milan furthered their bid to salvage a shocking start to the season with a thrilling win away from home against AFC Fiorentina. The Nerazzurri beat their rivals 4-3 in a topsy-turvy encounter, only being able to breathe easy after the very final second of the game.
Simone Inzaghi did not play a full-strength side, opting to bench a few important players ahead of their European game in the midweek. Inter will face Viktoria Plzen on Wednesday as the battle for qualification in Group C heats up. A win will go a long way for the three-time UEFA Champions League winners, as they are chased by Barcelona.
Inzaghi decided to bench a number of first-team players, including Alessandro Bastoni, Denzel Dumfries, and Edin Dzeko. Veteran central defender Francesco Acerbi began in the three-man defence with Milan Skriniar and Stefan de Vrij, while Joaquin Correa began with compatriot Lautaro Martinez up front.
Inter immediately went ahead as Nicolo Barella scored to bring up his highest goal tally in a club season. Lautaro Martinez then doubled Inter’s lead at the quarter-hour mark, beating five Fiorentina defenders before smashing in a comfortable finish into the net.
La Viola earned themselves a penalty at the half hour mark, which was promptly converted by Arthur Cabral. Winger Jonathan Ikone scored a wonderful goal, finding the top corner from distance to equalise. The Frenchman dribbled into the Inter box before shuffling onto his left foot and unleashing a beautiful shot into the top left corner.
Inter then earned a penalty of their own with 15 minutes to play, duly converted by Martinez. Luka Jovic subsequently scored from a wonderful turn in the last minute of normal time to set up an absolutely thrilling finish.
At 3-3, the Nerazzurri went all-out in attack as they were desperate for three points and found the back of the net with the last ten seconds of stoppage time in what could be construed as a lucky goal from Henrikh Mkhitaryan, scoring off a deflection to give Inter the decisive lead. The win leaves Inter a point off the top four, having played a game more.
